Chapter Four
Britain – Christmas
The snow falling on London coated the entire city in a big, wet blanket. It muffled the outside noises from the O'Connell mansion, but from within, that was a completely different story.
If one were to be sitting in the surroundings of the family room, with its dark oak furniture, and dark oak trim decorated in festivity colors, one might be able to hear a suspicious creaking noise, as though a piece of furniture were under a great deal of stress. And then one might also be able to hear tiny, pitiful grunts from atop that piece of straining furniture.
Alex O'Connell, nine, blonde hair messy from having slept and awoken without combing, little satin robe dangling over top of him, and missing one slipper. At eight in the morning, while the rest of the house slept, overwhelmed by the previous night's Christmas Eve party, Alex was up to his usual self. Hypnotized by a single delicious looking, fruit flavored candy cane, perched on one of the highest boughs of the Christmas tree, Alex made himself a mock ladder – out of the bookcase. Balancing on his tippy-toes, one hand on the top shelf of the bookcase, and the other reaching for the ever elusive candy cane, almost teasingly out of his reach, Alex gave a final 'humph', and reached as far as his little arm could go.
It proved far too much for the straining bookcase. In one beautifully, completely ungraceful movement, the opulent Christmas tree, the bookcase, along with Alex on top of it, fell. Contorting his face in a frog-like expression, Alex could merely hang on as everything came crashing down. Propelled by the leaning bookcase, Alex flew off the top of it, and fell with a thump onto the couch.
Both at once, Evelyn and Rick awoke in their beds with a start. Sitting straight up, sleepy-eyed but wide-awake, they glanced at each other with a sigh. Both reached for their robes laying on the floor, and grumbling as they trudged out of their room.
"Could we possibly have one morning when we're not awakened like this?" Evelyn muttered.
Rick, for his part, shrugged. "Obviously he gets this from your side of the family."
Evelyn stared at Rick, who walked out the bedroom door and stared into the great space below him. Rick could feel the blood rushing into his head, but fought to contain it. There were books scattered all over the room, the bookcase was leaning precariously against the coffee table, and the Christmas tree, which Evelyn had so lovingly decorated, was now in a pathetic heap on the floor. Rick shook his head while gripping the banister so hard, his knuckles began to turn white. "Just when I thought he couldn't top last week's, he proves me wrong." He said quietly.
He heard a large gasp behind him, just as Evelyn came to join him. Her lip began to twitch. Rick got scared. Before Evelyn could walk downstairs, Rick blocked her way, putting his hands up in front of her face. "Now, now honey, maybe there's a perfectly good reason for this."
Evelyn's eyebrows shot up in surprise.
Rick re-thought his statement. "Or not."
They walked together downstairs, purposely slow. From behind the couch, a small blonde head popped up.
"Oh mum, dad, whew, thank god, I mean, well, um, hey, look, thank god I'm alive!" He stood up, with his hands on his hips and surveyed the mess along with his parents. He nodded his head, as though he were not the cause of it, but merely a bystander.
His parents glowered at him. He slowly brought his brown eyes up to meet theirs, sensing his impending doom.
And just then the front door burst open. Jonathan, ladled with suitcases, stumbled inside, ushered in by the blowing snow, which was now also blowing inside the house. Evy and Rick both rushed over to help.
"Bloody freezing out there!" Jonathan exclaimed. "Train almost froze right to the tracks!"
Alex's eyes widened. "Really?"
"No."
"How was your trip?" Evelyn asked with a smile.
"Oh, you know, same old Egypt. But, I do not come empty handed." And he produced a large box underneath his arm. "Merry Christmas old chaps!"
Alex jumped up and grabbed the box, invoking a stern look from his mother. "Ooh, its heavy." Alex ripped the top off and peered inside. "Which one's mine?"
This was quite enough for Evy. "Alex, that's enough. No opening until after dinner."
Jonathan and Alex both protested. "Oh come on old mum. Why not open these one's now and save the rest for later." Jonathan then glanced to where the presents were supposed to be – around the tree, although now, they were buried underneath the tree. "Oh. Another wild party, huh Rick?" Jonathan jabbed good naturedly at Rick, although Rick did not return the smile.
~~~
After the bookcase was replaced up against the wall, the books somewhat put in their proper place, and the Christmas tree propped back up, the family sat around the crackling fire, sipping tea.
"Here, Evy, you open yours first." Jonathan handed Evelyn a small wrapped package. Evelyn smiled graciously at Jonathan, then delicately unwrapped her present. Her eyes grew and twinkled when she brought out the sapphire scarab.
"Jonathan, it's divine. Where on earth did you find it?"
Jonathan smiled and blushed, obviously pleased that Evelyn was impressed. "You know, this and that. Here Rick, you next."
Rick looked suspiciously at his present, hoping against hope that it wasn't another gag gift like last year. When he flashed his dagger, everyone excluding Jonathan gasped. Rick nodded appreciatively, stroking the blade and attempting to decipher the hieroglyphs. "Pretty nice Jonathan."
Jonathan pointed at the dagger. "And you can cut the turkey with that too." He laughed, then looked at the small round, smiling face below him. Jonathan screwed his face up in mock confusion. "Lets see, did I remember to buy ol' what's his name something?"
Alex rolled his eyes. "Lets have it Uncle Jon."
Jonathan reached deep inside the box and brought out a large, stone cat. He set it out in front of Alex. Evelyn looked over it inquisitively. Rick stared, confused, then went back to inspecting his knife. Alex looked puzzled.
"Neat Uncle Jon, but what's it do?"
Jonathan fought for the words. "Well, it um, it uh, Evelyn help me out here."
Evelyn smiled sweetly at her son. "Honey, in Egyptian culture, cats look over the dead."
Alex's eyes grew wide with shock. "Mum, what are you saying?!?"
Rick snickered. Evelyn clasped her son's hand and picked up the cat. "What do you say we go and put it in your room."
~~~
They sat the cat down on the windowsill, facing the whited out world of England.